Saving a life takes many forms. Helping animals in a crisis or disaster area is one of them.
As Dalai Lama said “People have to learn to think about animals in a different way, as sentient beings who love life and fear death.”
While it is impossible at this time to rescue or get the abandoned pets out of war-torn Marawi City in Mindanao, animal lovers and animal welfare advocates looked for ways to send in food for the dogs and cats trapped in the area.
Save Animals of Love and Light (Save ALL), the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF), and Hope for the Strays have separately sent care packages—dog and cat food—to Marawi via Iligan City.
Many bashed animal welfare advocates for sending food for animals and not for humans.
I believe these bashers are not aware that relief goods are prepared DAILY by the government agencies involved in providing help to HUMANS during a crisis or after a disaster hit an area. A lot of private companies and individuals also send help for humans.
They are not aware, it seems, that not one government agency has been provided funds or has been instructed to provide help for the animals in need despite the fact we have an Animal Welfare Act, a law which protects animals.
Republic Act No. 10631, or an Act amending R.A. 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act of 1998, states in Section 1 that: “It is the purpose of this Act to protect and promote the welfare of all …animals in the Philippines…”
It also states that “animal welfare pertains to the physical and psychological well-being of animals. It includes, but not limited to, the avoidance of abuse, maltreatment, cruelty and exploitation of animals by humans by maintaining appropriate standards of accommodation, feeding and general care, the prevention and treatment of disease and the assurance of freedom from fear, distress, harassment, and unnecessary discomfort and pain, and allowing animals to express normal behavior.
Animal welfare advocates, in line with the intent of the law, sent as much help as they can to animals who are hungry and are traumatized by the sound of gunfire and bombings.
For this reason, Save ALL is grateful to Iligan city vet Dr. Dahlia Molo Valera and her staff who found a way to have the food brought inside Marawi.
Save ALL thanks journalists who brought in the food for the animals, particularly Ms. Divina M. Suson of SunStar SuperBalita and her team who braved the rains and went around the city to leave the dog and cat food in military detachments and on the streets. We are also thankful to Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA 7 who brought the plight of animals in Marawi to the attention of the public through his report.
Save ALL is awed by the kindness of the soldiers who left or gave the food to animals in the area.
Save ALL admires the donors who sent funds for Save ALL to send the second batch of food for animals—120 kilos of dog food and 54 kilos of cat food. The first batch included 80 kilos of dog food and 12.5 kilos of cat food.
You are earth angels for animals, donors Renson Gamboa, Aileen Rull, Ivy Rull, Nicole Benedito, Miss ME, Keng Gatchalian, Liz Miguel, Cholo, Niwre Rossi Schumacher, Althea Prudente, Izzy Tish, JNS, Sheila Salao, Angela Thakur, MC Chacha, PBS, and Kaye Advincula.
Save ALL also greatly appreciates the Office of Senator Nancy Binay and Mr. Porky Porcalla for finding a way to ship the second batch of food for free.
These acts of kindness of persons from different sectors made the impossible possible: food is now available for the abandoned animals.
These acts of kindness also make one feel there is still hope for this country. As Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Please pray for both humans and animals in Marawi City, the evacuees in Iligan City, and an end to the crisis.
Thank you. Namaste!